Guzzi Shifs Gears

GUZZI SHIFS GEARS

The number-one manufacturer of two-wheeled vehicles in Europe is Moto Guzzi’s parent company, the Piaggio Group, with more than 550,000 units sold every year. Last year, of those units, fewer than 20,000 were motorcycles, the bulk of production represented by scooters and mopeds.

Okay, Piaggio invented the Vespa, queen of all modern scooters, but on the other hand, it has also acquired some of the most legendary names in Italian motorcycling. In 1969, it was Güera, and less than three years ago came Aprilia, which included Moto Guzzi. After many attempts to tie present realities to a glorious past, Güera is, sadly, little more than a fancy spin on Piaggio’s own scooter line, despite winning the ’08 250cc world roadracing championship in the hands of Marco Simoncelli on a rebadged Aprilia.

Last year, Guzzi’s production plunged from a promising 10,000 units in ’07 to fewer than 5000; official figures have not been released. Further, the Mandello del Lario factory, long due for refurbishing, will soon be shut down for at least three months.

Piaggio previously announced that all motorcycling activity within the group will be managed at and by Aprilia. New Guzzi concepts and models will be designed in Noale, their engines developed at Piaggio in Pontedera and only assembly will take place at Mandei lo del Lario.

So the future remains unclear. Could Harley-Davidson rescue Moto Guzzi just as it did MV Agusta? Doubtful, but the name remains legendary. As for Piaggio? Scooters are the main business. Period.

-Bruno dePrato